House tweaks domestic partnership law for same-sex couples

SALEM --Without anything near the political heat or debate that went into writing Oregon's 2007 domestic partnership law, the House on Monday passed a bill making what were described as "minor changes."Since the law took effect in 2008, proponents discovered that same-sex couples entering domestic partnerships and wishing to change or hyphenate their names must follow a different paperwork trail than men and women entering more traditional marriages. House Bill 2839 would create a similar process for couples seeking to change their names after entering into domestic partnerships. Without the change, Rep. Tina Kotek, D-Portland, says it's "confusing and problematic not only for the couples but also for the agencies involved." The bill also clarifies that same-sex couples who have married or formed civil unions in other states may enter into legal domestic partnerships in Oregon. During committee testimony, couples said they worried their Oregon partnerships would be declared invalid because they had previously entered into legally recognized unions with each other in other states. Only one House member spoke against the bill. Rep. Dennis Richardson, R-Central Point, noted that Oregonians in 2004 overwhelmingly approved Ballot Measure 36, which amended the Oregon constitution to declare marriage only legally valid between a man and a woman. "This bill may be a technical fix but it is a technical fix on a bill contrary to the will of the people," Richardson said. With no more debate, the bill passed on a 51-8 vote. It now moves to the Senate.